1st time mother at her wits end... PLEASE HELP!!!

The first two and a half weeks were easy. We only experienced maybe one or two nights over that span where she was fussy. Normally, she sleeps easily and soundly in her crib. I haven't had any issues with extremely bad gas or spit up.

Lately, for the last four nights she doesn't want to sleep. She acts tired, and we'll rock her and sooth her and as soon as we put her down in her crib she wakes up screaming. She's spitting up more because she is making herself upset with the crying. The only way we can seem to get her to get any rest is on her belly. She'll sleep on her belly during the day under close observation by me... or late at night when she has been so fussy and upset she'll sleep on her daddy's chest or mine.

My mom keeps saying I'm not feeding her enough, but she doesn't seem hungry. She also says I've spoiled her and thats why she won't sleep in her crib. It's not that she won't sleep in her crib. She REFUSES to sleep on her back.

I'm at my wits end. I'm going on my fifth consecutive day with barely any sleep. I just sit and cry and cry while I'm feeding her and trying to sooth her back to sleep, but the only thing that works is letting her lay on her belly. She'll be out in two minutes once we do and sleep extremely long lengths of time.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone else is dealing with this... or how they are dealing with it. I have read the SIDS reports and I know you're not suppose to let a baby sleep on their belly at night... but what if it is the only way they will sleep?

Does anyone know why she has changed preferences all of a sudden? How can I get her to sleep on her back again?

My daughter is 3 weeks, 1 day old today.

The first two and a half weeks were easy. We only experienced maybe one or two nights over that span where she was fussy. Normally, she sleeps easily and soundly in her crib. I haven't had any issues with extremely bad gas or spit up.

Lately, for the last four nights she doesn't want to sleep. She acts tired, and we'll rock her and sooth her and as soon as we put her down in her crib she wakes up screaming. She's spitting up more because she is making herself upset with the crying. The only way we can seem to get her to get any rest is on her belly. She'll sleep on her belly during the day under close observation by me... or late at night when she has been so fussy and upset she'll sleep on her daddy's chest or mine.

My mom keeps saying I'm not feeding her enough, but she doesn't seem hungry. She also says I've spoiled her and thats why she won't sleep in her crib. It's not that she won't sleep in her crib. She REFUSES to sleep on her back.

I'm at my wits end. I'm going on my fifth consecutive day with barely any sleep. I just sit and cry and cry while I'm feeding her and trying to sooth her back to sleep, but the only thing that works is letting her lay on her belly. She'll be out in two minutes once we do and sleep extremely long lengths of time.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone else is dealing with this... or how they are dealing with it. I have read the SIDS reports and I know you're not suppose to let a baby sleep on their belly at night... but what if it is the only way they will sleep?

Does anyone know why she has changed preferences all of a sudden? How can I get her to sleep on her back again?

have you tried putting her on her side and putting a rolled up recieving blanket under her back and leaning her? thats what i had to do with my son for a little bit. its safe and thats how my hospital had him sleeping for the week i was there.

ps, if you try this, dont forget to switch sides every other night or so to prevent flat spots on her head.

have you tried putting her on her side and putting a rolled up recieving blanket under her back and leaning her? thats what i had to do with my son for a little bit. its safe and thats how my hospital had him sleeping for the week i was there.

ps, if you try this, dont forget to switch sides every other night or so to prevent flat spots on her head.

My son had severe acid reflux when he was an infant (still does, he has GERD) and he reacted much like what you are describing. He would cry and cry unless he was on his belly or being rocked by one of us. Apparently, the pressure that results from laying on the belly soothed the acid pains as well as laying at an incline (for instance being rocked - typically the head is at an elevated level).

Of course, I'm not a doctor so I can't give any real medical advice, but you may want to keep an eye out for acid reflux signs (coughing, spitting up into the mouth and swallowing, spitting up after feedings, crying after feedings, hiccups after feeding, ect) I finally got a doctor to listen to me when he was about 6 months old. They said he had acid reflux and gave him medication that worked wonders.

What I ended up doing in the mean time was elevating one side of his crib. I have a type of crib that has many different levels that the crib can be set at using pins. I simply put them uneven so one side was slightly higher than the other. I also kept him upright for an hour after each feeding and these things helped a lot. I'm not sure if your child has acid reflux but it might be worth a shot to try keeping her upright after feedings and having her sleep on her back on a slight incline.

My son had severe acid reflux when he was an infant (still does, he has GERD) and he reacted much like what you are describing. He would cry and cry unless he was on his belly or being rocked by one of us. Apparently, the pressure that results from laying on the belly soothed the acid pains as well as laying at an incline (for instance being rocked - typically the head is at an elevated level).

Of course, I'm not a doctor so I can't give any real medical advice, but you may want to keep an eye out for acid reflux signs (coughing, spitting up into the mouth and swallowing, spitting up after feedings, crying after feedings, hiccups after feeding, ect) I finally got a doctor to listen to me when he was about 6 months old. They said he had acid reflux and gave him medication that worked wonders.

What I ended up doing in the mean time was elevating one side of his crib. I have a type of crib that has many different levels that the crib can be set at using pins. I simply put them uneven so one side was slightly higher than the other. I also kept him upright for an hour after each feeding and these things helped a lot. I'm not sure if your child has acid reflux but it might be worth a shot to try keeping her upright after feedings and having her sleep on her back on a slight incline.

"I have done a good amount of research about back sleeping vs. tummy
sleeping and have not found enough solid evidence (besides just what
people always say) that truly proves that tummy sleeping causes SIDS"

What part of your research wasn't conclusive? Do you have any specific studies to cite that yielded inconclusive results? Are you basing your decision on what has been presented or what you want to read out of it?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but suggesting that all the professionals are wrong and you are right is a bit over-doing it in my opinion. I've read your other comments about it and I understand that you honestly feel tummy sleeping does not increase the risk of SIDS. And again, you are entitled to feel and believe any which way you want. But the evidence is undeniable. Since the B2S campaign, SIDS has decreased more than %50. Coincidence? Maybe. Who knows really. Even the "wear your baby and only breastfeeding is right, co-sleeping fanatic" Dr. Sears can't deny the evidence.

I'm not saying tummy sleeping is wrong or makes one a "bad" mother. I'm only trying to point out that basing a decision off of research and carefully processed opinion of said research is always the right thing to do. Giving advice or encouragement that may potentially harm a child is not. You can come to the conclusion that the studies are not definitive. That's fine. To me however, it looks as though you are more-so trying to validate or defend your position rather than really trying to look at and evaluate the evidence.

So I'm just curious. What evidence (or lack thereof) are you basing your decision? I'm just not understanding what isn't "solid".

Sarah

"I have done a good amount of research about back sleeping vs. tummy
sleeping and have not found enough solid evidence (besides just what
people always say) that truly proves that tummy sleeping causes SIDS"

What part of your research wasn't conclusive? Do you have any specific studies to cite that yielded inconclusive results? Are you basing your decision on what has been presented or what you want to read out of it?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but suggesting that all the professionals are wrong and you are right is a bit over-doing it in my opinion. I've read your other comments about it and I understand that you honestly feel tummy sleeping does not increase the risk of SIDS. And again, you are entitled to feel and believe any which way you want. But the evidence is undeniable. Since the B2S campaign, SIDS has decreased more than %50. Coincidence? Maybe. Who knows really. Even the "wear your baby and only breastfeeding is right, co-sleeping fanatic" Dr. Sears can't deny the evidence.

I'm not saying tummy sleeping is wrong or makes one a "bad" mother. I'm only trying to point out that basing a decision off of research and carefully processed opinion of said research is always the right thing to do. Giving advice or encouragement that may potentially harm a child is not. You can come to the conclusion that the studies are not definitive. That's fine. To me however, it looks as though you are more-so trying to validate or defend your position rather than really trying to look at and evaluate the evidence.

So I'm just curious. What evidence (or lack thereof) are you basing your decision? I'm just not understanding what isn't "solid".

If your LO just refuses to sleep on her back, have you thought about in investing in an Angel Care or Snuza movement monitor? They monitor your baby's breathing and sound an alarm if they've gone longer than 20 seconds without breathing. At least this way you can lay your LO on her tummy and have some peace of mind knowing that you'll be alerted if she stops breathing. Just an idea - it may help you get some much needed rest!

If your LO just refuses to sleep on her back, have you thought about in investing in an Angel Care or Snuza movement monitor? They monitor your baby's breathing and sound an alarm if they've gone longer than 20 seconds without breathing. At least this way you can lay your LO on her tummy and have some peace of mind knowing that you'll be alerted if she stops breathing. Just an idea - it may help you get some much needed rest!

You can't spoile a 3 wk old... I hold my 2 wk son all the time. they are used to being in are tummys and thats all they want some lovin. My son would'nt go to sleep unless is was swaddle and he is still like that. At night I bath him feed him and when he is ready to lie down I swaddle him tight. He loves that. You just have to kearn your child and you will. God Bless!!

You can't spoile a 3 wk old... I hold my 2 wk son all the time. they are used to being in are tummys and thats all they want some lovin. My son would'nt go to sleep unless is was swaddle and he is still like that. At night I bath him feed him and when he is ready to lie down I swaddle him tight. He loves that. You just have to kearn your child and you will. God Bless!!

I'm actually, much to my dismay, not breast feeding. Evelyn lost too much weight in the hospital so I had to start supplementing formula and as soon as I did they she really didn't want to have anything to do with BF. I tried pumping for awhile but my milk just never really came in properly.

She eats the Premium Lipil... about 2.5-3 ounces every 3-4 hours. Some days she wants it every 2, growth spurt days.

I'm actually, much to my dismay, not breast feeding. Evelyn lost too much weight in the hospital so I had to start supplementing formula and as soon as I did they she really didn't want to have anything to do with BF. I tried pumping for awhile but my milk just never really came in properly.

She eats the Premium Lipil... about 2.5-3 ounces every 3-4 hours. Some days she wants it every 2, growth spurt days.

Thank you very much for your input and advice. I've had a few people ask me why I won't just let her sleep on her belly and the truth of the matter is I am just really afraid to. I've read a lot of research and you're right, there is no proof that babies who sleep on their belly's are more likely to experience SIDS then babies who sleep on their backs, it is just a suggested precaution to take. Many mothers sleep their babies on their belly's and I admire how you don't let the people who seem to disagree with your decision to let her sleep on her belly effect you.

After a long discussion with my DH yesterday afternoon we agreed to let her nap and sleep on her belly last night. We just took shifts so one of us was awake at all times to keep an eye on her and check on her regularly to see how things went for a few nights. She slept so peacefully, still is actually since her 5 oclock feeding. It's nice to see her finally getting the rest I know she's been needing for a few days now.

Thank you again for the advice. It makes it easier to go against the norm or deal with the people who judge you as a mother when you know you're not alone.

Thank you very much for your input and advice. I've had a few people ask me why I won't just let her sleep on her belly and the truth of the matter is I am just really afraid to. I've read a lot of research and you're right, there is no proof that babies who sleep on their belly's are more likely to experience SIDS then babies who sleep on their backs, it is just a suggested precaution to take. Many mothers sleep their babies on their belly's and I admire how you don't let the people who seem to disagree with your decision to let her sleep on her belly effect you.

After a long discussion with my DH yesterday afternoon we agreed to let her nap and sleep on her belly last night. We just took shifts so one of us was awake at all times to keep an eye on her and check on her regularly to see how things went for a few nights. She slept so peacefully, still is actually since her 5 oclock feeding. It's nice to see her finally getting the rest I know she's been needing for a few days now.

Thank you again for the advice. It makes it easier to go against the norm or deal with the people who judge you as a mother when you know you're not alone.

I definitely agree that we disagree and I put links to the study charts that show the correlation between tummy sleeping and SIDS percentages. I have also read the studies and the results are very clear to me. But each person will read out of the studies the information that best suits them I suppose, so in that regard, the studies can only do so much.

I'm not sharing what "I believe" to be true. I'm sharing what IS true. If you feel the experts are wrong then you have every right to feel that way. But I am not sharing my opinion of the studies, I'm sharing the conclusive results of the studies. You say you want to get parents "thinking for themselves" yet you provide no research, no sites, no factual information to aid in those decisions. Essentially you are merely telling other parents it's ok to go against expert advice and just follow your lead. Personally, I'd feel a great deal of responsibility if I encouraged someone to go against medical advice and something happened.

I definitely agree that we disagree and I put links to the study charts that show the correlation between tummy sleeping and SIDS percentages. I have also read the studies and the results are very clear to me. But each person will read out of the studies the information that best suits them I suppose, so in that regard, the studies can only do so much.

I'm not sharing what "I believe" to be true. I'm sharing what IS true. If you feel the experts are wrong then you have every right to feel that way. But I am not sharing my opinion of the studies, I'm sharing the conclusive results of the studies. You say you want to get parents "thinking for themselves" yet you provide no research, no sites, no factual information to aid in those decisions. Essentially you are merely telling other parents it's ok to go against expert advice and just follow your lead. Personally, I'd feel a great deal of responsibility if I encouraged someone to go against medical advice and something happened.

Yeah for good sleep!! I know how scary it can be to put baby down on her tummy (or in any position really) and walk away. For the first few nights (and still now sometimes) we would go in all the time and check on her. I would check to make sure her head was to the side and not face down and always lean into the crib to listen for breathing. But now that I can see what amazing head and neck control she has I am a little less neurotic about checking on her and can actually get some sleep. ;-) Again, only do what you feel comfortable with! And you are not alone!! ;-)

Yeah for good sleep!! I know how scary it can be to put baby down on her tummy (or in any position really) and walk away. For the first few nights (and still now sometimes) we would go in all the time and check on her. I would check to make sure her head was to the side and not face down and always lean into the crib to listen for breathing. But now that I can see what amazing head and neck control she has I am a little less neurotic about checking on her and can actually get some sleep. ;-) Again, only do what you feel comfortable with! And you are not alone!! ;-)

I am in child development and, yes, the current findings are that it is BEST to put baby on back to sleep. You are correct that it is the current findings that less SIDS cases in the U.S. since the baby on back campaign started. However, you must also realize that the US still has a greater risk of SIDS than, say, Burma, who still put babies on tummies and co sleep with their infants... I know this because I am doing a study on this very subject for my Doctral Thesis and am in the process of interviewing several memers of the Korin community who are refugees in the US. Why do third world countries have less instances of SIDS, Jaundice, and other infant "scares".

I would also like to point out that the poster DID NOT tell the Original Poster to go against the baby on back findings, but simply inserted her opinion on the findings. In fact the back sleeping campaign is less than 15 years old. My sister was told that to prevent SIDS she should put her children on their stomachs. This changedinb the late 90's, but stomach sleeping was the norm for 30+ years. Back sleeping has not been the only change in infant rearing, for instace, co sleeping, is less the norm. So, what factor has truly reduced the rates of SIDS? Also, when looking at "the studies" please make sure that it discusses current SIDS rates and compares them to SIDS rates in the recent past in the USA! Many of the recent studies i've seen compare current SIDS rates in the USA to SIDS rates in Japan.... I do not feel that comparing our current rates to another culture really addresses SIDS in America.

I put my baby to sleep on his back because I tend to take the advice of the current pediatric recomendation, however, my little one, will roll onto his side and so I simply let him roll from his back to his side. Even with the sleep wedges, i find him on his side. ;0)

So, my answer is: no one knows what causes sids and it scares me, so itend to "follow current protocol", but I also know that there is not a sure way to prevent SIDS. As for Svaccaro, she was simply putting in her opinion on whatever findings she has. The findings could simply have been talking to another mother whose child is 10+ years old. We have generations of belly sleeping infants. I feel the original poster can think for herself, so if she researches back sleeping and decides that the information is not conclusive, then it is not Svaccaro responsibility but the OP's. We are here to share what we have found, not to blast others for their opinion. The OP should find out for herself after hearing the discussion. It is our place to give an opinion but not to continually blast others.

Let me restate that I AGREE WITH YOU, but for the sake of intellectual discussion (and since I am writing a doctorate thesis on it)

The Studies you cited where both overseas studies. This has a cultural flaw because one study was in New Zealand and in New Zealand many mommies still cosleep (more than in the US).. and cigarette smoking among mothers is higher there as well. (Also a study done for my thesis, so was interviewed. We chose New zealand because many studies on SIDS are done there...and we wanted to compare and Contrast two western countries.) The FACT still remains that because the study was done in NEW ZEALAND that one could argue because of cultural differences, the findings are mute for the US. AS for the US study, only African Americans were studied. Once again, this is only a select ethnic group. One needs to ask what other cultural insights are at play. BAck sleeping is only a part. A study needs to be done which actually takes a cross section of the ENTIRE US population to put this matter to rest. Because in each of these studies, there are also cultural occurances at play.

I am sorry, but I couldn't open the second study... :(

Anyway, thank you zkmom for allowing me to rant, and thank you svaccaro, for being vulnerable while we all discuss your comments!

Erin

Dear Sarah,

I am in child development and, yes, the current findings are that it is BEST to put baby on back to sleep. You are correct that it is the current findings that less SIDS cases in the U.S. since the baby on back campaign started. However, you must also realize that the US still has a greater risk of SIDS than, say, Burma, who still put babies on tummies and co sleep with their infants... I know this because I am doing a study on this very subject for my Doctral Thesis and am in the process of interviewing several memers of the Korin community who are refugees in the US. Why do third world countries have less instances of SIDS, Jaundice, and other infant "scares".

I would also like to point out that the poster DID NOT tell the Original Poster to go against the baby on back findings, but simply inserted her opinion on the findings. In fact the back sleeping campaign is less than 15 years old. My sister was told that to prevent SIDS she should put her children on their stomachs. This changedinb the late 90's, but stomach sleeping was the norm for 30+ years. Back sleeping has not been the only change in infant rearing, for instace, co sleeping, is less the norm. So, what factor has truly reduced the rates of SIDS? Also, when looking at "the studies" please make sure that it discusses current SIDS rates and compares them to SIDS rates in the recent past in the USA! Many of the recent studies i've seen compare current SIDS rates in the USA to SIDS rates in Japan.... I do not feel that comparing our current rates to another culture really addresses SIDS in America.

I put my baby to sleep on his back because I tend to take the advice of the current pediatric recomendation, however, my little one, will roll onto his side and so I simply let him roll from his back to his side. Even with the sleep wedges, i find him on his side. ;0)

So, my answer is: no one knows what causes sids and it scares me, so itend to "follow current protocol", but I also know that there is not a sure way to prevent SIDS. As for Svaccaro, she was simply putting in her opinion on whatever findings she has. The findings could simply have been talking to another mother whose child is 10+ years old. We have generations of belly sleeping infants. I feel the original poster can think for herself, so if she researches back sleeping and decides that the information is not conclusive, then it is not Svaccaro responsibility but the OP's. We are here to share what we have found, not to blast others for their opinion. The OP should find out for herself after hearing the discussion. It is our place to give an opinion but not to continually blast others.

Let me restate that I AGREE WITH YOU, but for the sake of intellectual discussion (and since I am writing a doctorate thesis on it)

The Studies you cited where both overseas studies. This has a cultural flaw because one study was in New Zealand and in New Zealand many mommies still cosleep (more than in the US).. and cigarette smoking among mothers is higher there as well. (Also a study done for my thesis, so was interviewed. We chose New zealand because many studies on SIDS are done there...and we wanted to compare and Contrast two western countries.) The FACT still remains that because the study was done in NEW ZEALAND that one could argue because of cultural differences, the findings are mute for the US. AS for the US study, only African Americans were studied. Once again, this is only a select ethnic group. One needs to ask what other cultural insights are at play. BAck sleeping is only a part. A study needs to be done which actually takes a cross section of the ENTIRE US population to put this matter to rest. Because in each of these studies, there are also cultural occurances at play.

I am sorry, but I couldn't open the second study... :(

Anyway, thank you zkmom for allowing me to rant, and thank you svaccaro, for being vulnerable while we all discuss your comments!

To our topic poster:I am glad that you are finding a way to get your LO to sleep. Mine is fine on her back at night, but I rarely if ever get her to nap on her back. I rotate between the swing, bouncer, my lap, and her tummy *gasp* (when I can stay in the room) during the day. I do find that temperature was crucial (blankets, heating pad, sleep sacks, long sleeves at night) and minimizing any movement from my lap to her crib. My LO must have a full belly and be completely asleep before I can put her down at this age. If her eyes are open she'll wake fast and it takes longer to get her back to sleep then just to hold her the first time. I'll tackle self-soothing when shes older.

To zkmom:Thank you for the links. I find it interesting that the first article referenced is discussing infants who are suddenly in a prone poition (stomach) who were placed in a non-prone position (back) or mvoed to a prone position did not have the ability to move their face out of the sheet. I think that study actually proves the need for tummy time. Parents could easily make themselves believe that placing their LO on their back means they will stay on their back and therefore not take precautions for strengthening their babies ability to adapt. I find the need for tummy time and supervised short tummy naps even more crucial than before. I wonder if any studies have looked at coorelations between tummy time/neck control and SIDS. The other two articles point out that backsleeping significantly reduces the likelihood that SIDS will occur, but the studies don't prove that stomach sleeping is the cause (typically low birth weight, a smoking mother, poverty, or family history are identified in SIDS deaths). I am inclined to believe that its genetic and that if its possible to mitigate through the environment then we should look strongly at the experts advice.

To everyone:If you and your baby aren't sleeping but 4 hours a day, then you have to decide if the lack of sleep for the family or mitigating some risk is more important for the health and well-being of everyone. It's easy for people who have an easy baby who sleeps on their back or a baby thats just wants to sleep to cast stones. In general, I think our board should be more open minded to the idea that backsleeping isn't more important than sleep. If we can help a parent find away to get their child to sleep that way then wonderful. But if its just not going to happen, we should not condemn them either. Those parents will always worry more than the rest of us and they need support, not condemnation.

To our topic poster:I am glad that you are finding a way to get your LO to sleep. Mine is fine on her back at night, but I rarely if ever get her to nap on her back. I rotate between the swing, bouncer, my lap, and her tummy *gasp* (when I can stay in the room) during the day. I do find that temperature was crucial (blankets, heating pad, sleep sacks, long sleeves at night) and minimizing any movement from my lap to her crib. My LO must have a full belly and be completely asleep before I can put her down at this age. If her eyes are open she'll wake fast and it takes longer to get her back to sleep then just to hold her the first time. I'll tackle self-soothing when shes older.

To zkmom:Thank you for the links. I find it interesting that the first article referenced is discussing infants who are suddenly in a prone poition (stomach) who were placed in a non-prone position (back) or mvoed to a prone position did not have the ability to move their face out of the sheet. I think that study actually proves the need for tummy time. Parents could easily make themselves believe that placing their LO on their back means they will stay on their back and therefore not take precautions for strengthening their babies ability to adapt. I find the need for tummy time and supervised short tummy naps even more crucial than before. I wonder if any studies have looked at coorelations between tummy time/neck control and SIDS. The other two articles point out that backsleeping significantly reduces the likelihood that SIDS will occur, but the studies don't prove that stomach sleeping is the cause (typically low birth weight, a smoking mother, poverty, or family history are identified in SIDS deaths). I am inclined to believe that its genetic and that if its possible to mitigate through the environment then we should look strongly at the experts advice.

To everyone:If you and your baby aren't sleeping but 4 hours a day, then you have to decide if the lack of sleep for the family or mitigating some risk is more important for the health and well-being of everyone. It's easy for people who have an easy baby who sleeps on their back or a baby thats just wants to sleep to cast stones. In general, I think our board should be more open minded to the idea that backsleeping isn't more important than sleep. If we can help a parent find away to get their child to sleep that way then wonderful. But if its just not going to happen, we should not condemn them either. Those parents will always worry more than the rest of us and they need support, not condemnation.

"I find it interesting that the first article referenced is discussing
infants who are suddenly in a prone poition (sic) (stomach) who were placed
in a non-prone position (back) or mvoed (sic) to a prone position did not
have the ability to move their face out of the sheet."

They were not "suddenly" in a prone position. If you read the study closely it explains that only a small percentage were placed supine and found prone. What happened was that the babies were put on the tummy to sleep when typically they sleep on their backs.

In addition, 138 infants who died ofSIDS were last placed nonprone. Forty-seven infants (34%) inthis group were found prone (secondary prone)

So in total, 138 infant were placed on their back and out of the 138, 91 of them were also found on their back. That means that out of a total of 386 babies, 295 were found on their bellies. Of the 295, 248 were placed on their bellies to go to sleep. Out of the 248, 31 were not accustomed to sleeping on their bellies but were placed that way anyway. So really you are focusing on 31 babies.

"The other two articles point out that backsleeping significantly
reduces the likelihood that SIDS will occur, but the studies don't
prove that stomach sleeping is the cause "

There is no cause of SIDS. SIDS is a description. It's the sudden unexplained death of a child under the age of one (some have extended that to two...but officially it's one). It is not a disease. They died of "unknown" causes and described as a sudden infant death of syndromic nature and therefore a SIDS case. But the closest we have come to a medical explanation of SIDS is this study:

Ishikawa, Isono, Aiba, Tanaka, and Nishino (2002)
examined passive pharyngeal collapsibility in supine and prone
positioned infants and concluded that the prone position increases
upper airway collapsibility contributing to SIDS. Waters and colleagues studied the brains of 29 SIDS victims and, in 79% of the cases, found
significant neuronal apoptosis, a form of cell death that can be
triggered by hypoxemia. They posited that neuronal damage caused
functional loss in key brain regions and may have some implications for
understanding the sequence of events that lead to SIDS. Regardless of
mechanisms involved, this change in sleep position has significantly
decreased the incidence of SIDS.

"I'm inclined to believe it's genetic"

Possibly. As per my own research of the studies, it is evident that some babies lift their head to breath when faced with a smothering event and some don't. That part just may be genetic. Personally, I choose not to find out if my child shares that genetic flaw. I'll just assure he isn't faced with a smothering event and eliminate as many risk factors as possible.

Sarah

"I find it interesting that the first article referenced is discussing
infants who are suddenly in a prone poition (sic) (stomach) who were placed
in a non-prone position (back) or mvoed (sic) to a prone position did not
have the ability to move their face out of the sheet."

They were not "suddenly" in a prone position. If you read the study closely it explains that only a small percentage were placed supine and found prone. What happened was that the babies were put on the tummy to sleep when typically they sleep on their backs.

In addition, 138 infants who died ofSIDS were last placed nonprone. Forty-seven infants (34%) inthis group were found prone (secondary prone)

So in total, 138 infant were placed on their back and out of the 138, 91 of them were also found on their back. That means that out of a total of 386 babies, 295 were found on their bellies. Of the 295, 248 were placed on their bellies to go to sleep. Out of the 248, 31 were not accustomed to sleeping on their bellies but were placed that way anyway. So really you are focusing on 31 babies.

"The other two articles point out that backsleeping significantly
reduces the likelihood that SIDS will occur, but the studies don't
prove that stomach sleeping is the cause "

There is no cause of SIDS. SIDS is a description. It's the sudden unexplained death of a child under the age of one (some have extended that to two...but officially it's one). It is not a disease. They died of "unknown" causes and described as a sudden infant death of syndromic nature and therefore a SIDS case. But the closest we have come to a medical explanation of SIDS is this study:

Ishikawa, Isono, Aiba, Tanaka, and Nishino (2002)
examined passive pharyngeal collapsibility in supine and prone
positioned infants and concluded that the prone position increases
upper airway collapsibility contributing to SIDS. Waters and colleagues studied the brains of 29 SIDS victims and, in 79% of the cases, found
significant neuronal apoptosis, a form of cell death that can be
triggered by hypoxemia. They posited that neuronal damage caused
functional loss in key brain regions and may have some implications for
understanding the sequence of events that lead to SIDS. Regardless of
mechanisms involved, this change in sleep position has significantly
decreased the incidence of SIDS.

"I'm inclined to believe it's genetic"

Possibly. As per my own research of the studies, it is evident that some babies lift their head to breath when faced with a smothering event and some don't. That part just may be genetic. Personally, I choose not to find out if my child shares that genetic flaw. I'll just assure he isn't faced with a smothering event and eliminate as many risk factors as possible.

"However, you must also realize that the US still has a greater risk of
SIDS than, say, Burma, who still put babies on tummies and co sleep
with their infants..." "Why do third world countries have less instances of SIDS, Jaundice, and other infant "scares". "

Do they really have less occurrences? How is reporting of SIDS cases handled? Do they send investigators to these villages to account for the SIDS cases? I believe third worls countries "have less" of these scares because they aren't reported. But that's just a theory.

"I would also like to point out that the poster DID NOT tell the Original Poster to go against the baby on back findings"

I think you may have missed all the other posts.

This poster said:

We sleep our LO on her tummy to avoid this (and for other reasons...so
she won't choke on her spit up, because she sleeps better this way
because she doesn't startle, and because there really is no real
evidence that tummy sleeping causes SIDS, even though people think
there is...do the research yourself and you will see that it's not
actually true)

As a former teacher, once this
whole â€œback to sleepâ€ thing started, we
began seeing so many more fine motor issues: canâ€™t hold a pencil
correctly, doesnâ€™t cut with scissors well, color well, etc. Fine motor
skills effect gross motor skills: playing kickball in PE, running on
the playground, swinging, etc. All of the muscles beginning in the
fingertips are connected to the brain. When they are underdeveloped
from not learning to push up (45 min of tummy time a day isnâ€™t enough)
it effects brain development which in turn has led to an increase of
learning disabilities, especially in reading.

"So, just know that tummy sleeping isn't the worst thing in the world
and there are many moms that sleep their babies on their bellies with
no trouble at all. "

Sarah

"However, you must also realize that the US still has a greater risk of
SIDS than, say, Burma, who still put babies on tummies and co sleep
with their infants..." "Why do third world countries have less instances of SIDS, Jaundice, and other infant "scares". "

Do they really have less occurrences? How is reporting of SIDS cases handled? Do they send investigators to these villages to account for the SIDS cases? I believe third worls countries "have less" of these scares because they aren't reported. But that's just a theory.

"I would also like to point out that the poster DID NOT tell the Original Poster to go against the baby on back findings"

I think you may have missed all the other posts.

This poster said:

We sleep our LO on her tummy to avoid this (and for other reasons...so
she won't choke on her spit up, because she sleeps better this way
because she doesn't startle, and because there really is no real
evidence that tummy sleeping causes SIDS, even though people think
there is...do the research yourself and you will see that it's not
actually true)

As a former teacher, once this
whole â€œback to sleepâ€ thing started, we
began seeing so many more fine motor issues: canâ€™t hold a pencil
correctly, doesnâ€™t cut with scissors well, color well, etc. Fine motor
skills effect gross motor skills: playing kickball in PE, running on
the playground, swinging, etc. All of the muscles beginning in the
fingertips are connected to the brain. When they are underdeveloped
from not learning to push up (45 min of tummy time a day isnâ€™t enough)
it effects brain development which in turn has led to an increase of
learning disabilities, especially in reading.

"So, just know that tummy sleeping isn't the worst thing in the world
and there are many moms that sleep their babies on their bellies with
no trouble at all. "

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